Ms McDonald said that although the woman was “terrified ... she didn’t give in to fear”. Ms McDonald said “it is very shocking that it was only after she was admitted to hospital that she started treatment. “The stress and the anxiety of having cancer, worrying about it growing and spreading but not being treated, got worse for her day by day,” said Ms McDonald. She offered to travel to other hospitals, but her wait continued until she presented at the emergency department in “significant pain”. “That is terrifying,” Ms McDonald said.

Source: The Irish Times January 14, 2026 17:06 UTC